Safety aid station for construction projects

ABSTRACT

A safety station for a construction site comprising a housing that can include a retractable stand coupled to the housing. This retractable stand can include a plurality of legs coupled to this housing. These legs are retractable into the housing in either a telescoping manner or by having the legs in two parts wherein these legs can be folded up into the housing via a hinge. There is also a backboard coupled to the housing wherein coupled to the backboard are a plurality of tools. In this case, covering the backboard is a cover which covers the plurality of tools on the backboard. This cover is movably attached to this housing. In this case, the cover can be moved along this housing for opening and closing access to this housing. In addition, instead of having a slidable cover, the housing can include a set of french doors which allow access into the housing.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional application Ser. No. 60/472,040 filed on May 20, 2003 wherein priority is claimed under 35 U.S.C. 119(e).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Other types of construction site stations or safety stations are known in the art such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,543,890 to Criswell; 5,951,129 to Stein; D321,417 to Flannagan; 3,254,756 to Rankin; 4,437,568 to Hamblin; 5,598,923 to Owens; 4,513,866 to Thomas; 4,131,327 to Marshall; 4,828,113 to Friedland all incorporated herein by reference.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The invention relates to a construction site safety station wherein this safety station is in the form of a portable device that can be folded up and transported from one site to another.

[0004] Essentially, the invention relates to a safety station for a construction site comprising a housing that can include a retractable stand coupled to the housing. This retractable stand can include a plurality of legs coupled to this housing. These legs are retractable into the housing in either a telescoping manner or by having the legs set in two parts wherein these legs can be folded up into the housing via a hinge.

[0005] There is also a backboard coupled to the housing wherein coupled to the backboard are a plurality of tools. In this case, covering the backboard is a cover which covers the plurality of tools on the backboard. This cover is movably attached to this housing. In this case, the cover can be moved along this housing for opening and closing access to this housing. In addition, instead of having a slidable cover, the housing can include a set of french doors which allow access into the housing.

[0006] The purpose of this invention is to provide safety for all types of construction workers and to save money for the construction contractors. This safety station helps to reduce job accidents and therefore aids the contractor in reducing insurance costs and OSHA fines.

[0007] The stand can be made from anodized aluminum. Fastened to the easel stand is a storage cabinet with a door. The cabinet can have a handle and a lock. The storage cabinet can be approximately 42″ wide and 40″ in height with a thickness of about 10″.

[0008] In a first embodiment of the invention wherein with a slidable cover, when the cover is swung open, it creates a protective roof for the station.

[0009] All of the accessories in the station can be fastened to the storage cabinet magnetically. These safety elements such as goggles, safety reports, dust masks, etc can be inserted into an aluminum container and then fastened to a magnetic strip that is then attached to a ferromagnetic backing on the cabinet for receiving the aluminum container.

[0010] Alternatively, the safety goggles dust masks, ear plugs, gloves and safety reports may be contained in clear individually covered clear rigid plastic or equivalent plastic containers that are clearly marked. The clear, rigid plastic containers may be fastened to the back wall either with a magnetic strip or by using bolts that would bolt into a back wall or backboard that is not ferromagnetic but rather a drillable backboard such as plywood or pressboard.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the drawings are designed for the purpose of illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the invention.

[0012] In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views:

[0013]FIG. 1 is a side view of a first embodiment of the device;

[0014]FIG. 2 is a back view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

[0015]FIG. 3 is a front view of the embodiment with the front cover open; and

[0016]FIG. 4 is a front view of a second embodiment of the invention wherein the front doors are closed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0017] Turning now in detail to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a side view of the device 10 which includes a front cover 12 which has at least one eye 14 for allowing the front cover to slide along legs 21 having a track 17 a. There is also an ear or a lock element 16 with a bolt to hold a sliding door 12 to a frame 15.

[0018] In addition, there are a plurality of legs 21, and 23 which form an easel type structure along with a leg support 22 which can be folded down and used to fix legs 21 and 23 in place. At a top end, legs 21 and 23 can connect to a hinge 18 wherein legs 21 and 23 can rotate out to form an easel type structure. Leg support 22 is coupled to leg 21 via a hinge connection 25. Leg support 22 has an indentation 22 a that allows leg support 22 to attach over a pin 24 disposed on leg 23. Disposed on leg 21 is a clip 20 for support of leg 22 when this leg is not in use.

[0019] There are holes 26 a and 26 b disposed in legs 21 and 23 wherein holes 26 a and 26 b are designed to receive detents disposed on additional legs 27 and 29 wherein these detents are designed to lock legs 27 and 29 in place. There are also detents 30 which can be used to lock legs 27 and 29 in place when legs 27 and 29 are slid up into legs 21 and 23.

[0020] Essentially, in this embodiment, legs 21 and 23 are used to support frame or housing 15 above a surface when the device is set up for display. These legs 21 and 23 can thus be folded together while additional legs 27 and 29 can slide up into legs 21 and 23 respectively in a telescoping manner.

[0021] Alternatively, legs 27 and 29 could fold up on a hinge 19 (See FIG. 2) into legs 21 and 23 such that these legs are set in a retracted position.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 1, essentially, lines 28 can be considered dividing lines between top legs 21 and 23 and bottom legs 27 and 29.

[0023]FIG. 2 is a back end view of the device shown in FIG. 1. In this case, there are shown hinges 18 that are coupled to legs 23 a and 23 b. In this view there is a locking handle 22 which can be used to lock the entire device up such that when the device is locked up it forms a portable suitcase type structure. In this view, a back end plate is not shown such that when the device is locked in place in a closed position, a back end plate (not shown) is coupled in this closed position along with front cover 12 to form a closed suitcase.

[0024] There are also shown eye bolts 34 for use with a strap 26 wherein strap 26 can be coupled to bolts 34 and used to carry the device once it is locked in place via lock 22. This strap can be used in the form of a luggage strap wherein a user can then carry the device on his or her shoulder when transporting this device.

[0025] In this view, hinges 18 are shown wherein as described above, a front cover 12 is slidable along tracks 17 a and 17 b which allow cover 12 to be selectively moved to open an opening in housing 15. Essentially, cover 12 slides on rails 17 a and 17 b via pin 14 up and over legs 21 and 23 wherein cover 12 is then used to form a roof or shade cover for this display (See FIG. 1.)

[0026]FIG. 3 shows an open view of the device wherein in this view, there is shown support legs 27 a and 27 b which extend down to support housing 15. Disposed in housing 15 are a plurality of different safety components. These safety components include glass wipes 52, safety glasses 54, dust masks 56 and ear plugs 58.

[0027] In addition, there is shown a housing for an eye wash kit 46, a housing for a first aid kit 48 and a compartment for gloves 55. A safety helmet 44 can be coupled in a releasable manner to housing 15. In addition, a fire extinguisher 45 is coupled to this housing. In this case, there is also a compartment for storing safety reports 42 wherein safety reports relating to a construction project can be stored in this section. All of the housings or compartments for housing this safety equipment can be in the form of a clear plastic housing which can include a fastener such as t42 a, 44 a, 45 a, 46 a, 48 a, 52 a, 54 a, 56 a, and 58 a associated with the above listed elements wherein these fasteners can be in the form of a magnetic strip or an element on the back of the above safety devices in the form of a loop for attaching to a hook on the backing. Alternatively a bolt can be fastened into the back wall wherein the back wall can be in the form of a drillable material such as pressboard, particle board, plastic or any other type material.

[0028] An additional embodiment shown in FIG. 4 shows a device having a cover 15 that essentially comprises a set of french doors 70 and 72 which can swing open to allow a user access to the safety components. In this case the french doors 70 and 72 are coupled to housing 15 via hinges 60, 62, 64, and 66 respectively. With this design as with the design described above, there is a device that can be easily transported and easily set up for display and use.

[0029] Essentially, this device is designed to allow a construction team to set up a safety station wherein this safety station can be easily transported and then set in place wherein the legs associated with the device can be easily unfolded to allow the device to be set up.

[0030] Accordingly, while a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it is to be understood that many changes and modifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A safety station for a construction site comprising: a) a housing; b) a retractable stand coupled to said housing wherein said retractable stand includes a plurality of legs coupled to said housing, wherein said plurality of legs are retractable into said housing; c) a backboard coupled to said housing; d) a plurality of tools coupled to said backboard; and e) a cover for covering said plurality of tools on said backboard, said cover coupled to said housing, and being movably attached to said housing, wherein said cover can be moved along said housing for opening and closing access to said housing.
 2. The safety station as claimed in claim 1, wherein said legs comprise a plurality of telescoping legs that can be retracted into said housing.
 3. The safety station as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of hinges wherein said plurality of legs comprise a first set of legs and a second set of legs wherein said plurality of hinges are disposed between said first set of legs and said second set of legs and wherein said second set of legs can be folded up via said plurality of hinges and into said housing.
 4. The safety station as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cover comprises a slidable cover comprising a plurality of tracks and said housing comprise at least one runner wherein said slidable cover slides over said runners to open said housing.
 5. The safety station as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plurality of tools comprises at least one fire extinguisher.
 6. The safety station as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plurality of tools comprise at least one first aid kit.
 7. The safety station as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a lock for locking said cover to said housing.
 8. The safety station as claimed in claim 6, wherein said lock is in the form of a loop coupled to said cover, and a loop coupled to said housing wherein a lock can be inserted into said loop coupled to said cover and said loop coupled to said housing to lock said cover to said housing.
 9. The safety station as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of holders and a plurality of fasteners coupled to said plurality of holders wherein said fasteners are for fastening to said backboard.
 10. The safety station as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of holders and a plurality of magnetic elements, wherein at least one magnetic element is coupled to each of said plurality of holders.
 11. The safety station as claimed in claim 8, wherein said backboard is comprised of a ferromagnetic material, and wherein said plurality of holders are placed on said backboard and attached to said backboard via said plurality of said magnetic elements.
 12. The safety station as claimed in claim 9, wherein said fastener is in the form of a bolt and wherein said backboard is made from a drillable material for receiving said bolt.
 13. A safety station for a construction site comprising: a) a housing; b) a retractable stand coupled to said housing wherein said retractable stand includes a plurality of legs coupled to said housing, wherein said plurality of legs are retractable into said housing; c) a backboard coupled to said housing; d) a plurality of tools coupled to said backboard; and e) a cover in the form of two doors for covering said plurality of tools on said backboard, said cover coupled to said housing, and wherein said doors are rotatably attached to said housing, wherein said plurality of legs include at least a first set of legs and at least a second set of legs that are slidable inside of said first set of legs in a telescoping manner.
 14. The safety station as in claim 13, further comprising a plurality of holders and a plurality of fasteners coupled to said plurality of holders wherein said fasteners are for fastening said holders to said backboard and wherein said holders are for holding the following safety elements selected from the group consisting of an eye wash kit; a first aid kit; a compartment for gloves; a safety helmet; a fire extinguisher; and safety reports. 